Grow catalpa from seed by collecting dry brown pods, then sowing without pretreatment. Seedlings will not clone golden catalpa.
Collect dry pods, then sow without pretreatment
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Pods | Brown and dry; late winter is a good northern pickup | Green summer pods that have not filled |
| Pretreat | None. Sow late spring, barely covered | A long fridge strat as a required step |
| Cover | About 1/8 inch (4 mm), or press on the surface and keep moist | Burying the winged seed an inch deep |
| Vs clone | Seed for a species tree | Seed when you need ‘Aurea’ gold leaf |
Forest Service tests germinate catalpa promptly with no pretreat. Collect only after pods are brown and dry. February and March northern pods tested better than fall pickups. Cover about 4 mm, or sow on the surface. [1]
Can I grow catalpa from seed?
Yes. Shake winged seed from a dry pod and sow in late spring with a light cover. No cold period is required.
What are cigar tree pods?
Long, thin capsules that hang after bloom, then split and spill winged seed. That is the cigar-tree look.
How to sow catalpa seed
Home growers also surface-sow in spring and keep the mix moist. [2]
- Pick dry brown pods. Snap or shake out the papery winged seed.
- Sow in late spring, indoors or in a nursery bed, with a light cover of mix. Keep evenly moist.
- Watch for germ in about two weeks on good seed. Move seedlings to sun once they have true leaves.
- Grow them on for a season, then plant out after frost as you would any young tree.
Seedlings vs a named cutting
Seed is the easy species path, and trees reseed. [3] Pods on northern catalpa (C. speciosa) run up to about 22 inches and split lengthwise. [4] Golden catalpa (‘Aurea’) will not come back true from a random pod — take a cutting on Propagating Catalpa.
If the pod is still green and soft, wait until it browns and rattles — then sow, do not stratify.
FAQ
Do I need cold stratification?
No. USDA tests germinate catalpa without pretreatment. A fridge stay is storage, not a required winter.
Will seed come true to Aurea?
No. Sow for a species tree. Clone golden catalpa from a cutting.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] USDA Forest Service -
https://www.fs.usda.gov/nsl/Wpsm/Catalpa.pdf - [2] The Spruce -
https://www.thespruce.com/catalpa-growing-guide-5199828 - [3] HGTV -
https://www.hgtv.com/gardening/trees-and-shrubs/how-to-plant-and-grow-a-catalpa-tree - [4] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/catalpa-speciosa/
This note is part of Catalpa Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors